5-15-14

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Game of the Day: Thunder at Clippers


Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers (-4.5, 211.5)


Oklahoma City and Los Angeles have traded epic comeback victories and the end result is that the Thunder have a chance to sew up the Western Conference semifinals when they visit the Clippers on Thursday. Oklahoma City saw a 16-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate in Game 4 before falling and then rebounded from a 13-point deficit over the final four minutes to rally for a win on Tuesday. Russell Westbrook hit three late free throws to cap a 38-point effort that gave the Thunder a 3-2 lead.


Clippers coach Doc Rivers sharply criticized the officiating crew over a ruling in which Oklahoma City retained possession of the ball prior to the game-winning sequence but also was aware his team collapsed while allowing the final eight points of the 105-104 defeat. “They made a horrendous call,” Rivers told reporters. “But at the end of the day, we created the situation. We put them in the situation by the turnovers, the bad fouls, the non-fouls. We did a lot ourselves to not win the game.” Thunder star Kevin Durant suffered through a 6-of-22 shooting performance despite finishing with 27 points and 10 rebounds.


TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN


LINE HISTORY: Books opened the Clippers as 4.5-point home faves for this matchup. The total opened 212, but has since dropped to 211.5.


INJURY REPORT: Clippers F Hedo Turkoglu (Questionable, back).


WHAT THE CAPPERS SAY: "The Clippers started strong in Game 5 as they had momentum from their big comeback victory in Game 4, but Los Angeles blew a 13-point lead in the final four minutes of the game for a heart-breaking loss. Chris Paul was particularly bad in the final minutes, so it will be interesting to see if he rebounds at home in Game 6." Covers Expert Steve Merril.


ABOUT THE THUNDER: Westbrook stepped up with his highest scoring game of the postseason with league MVP Durant struggling so mightily. He is averaging 29.6 points and 8.2 assists in the series and his decision-making on the type of shots he takes has been solid. Westbrook said Durant encouraged him to take control in Game 5 and coach Scott Brooks raved about his point guard’s performance. “He’s fierce, he’s fearless and he’s a winner,” Brooks told reporters. “There’s nothing else you can say other than those three things. That’s who he is. The guy competes for his team every single night.”


ABOUT THE CLIPPERS: Typically one of the league’s most reliable players, point guard Chris Paul was the goat of Game 5 after committing two late turnovers – one in which he didn’t get up a possible game-winning shot in the final seconds – and fouling Westbrook with 6.4 seconds left on a 3-point attempt. Paul referred to the conclusion as the “toughest thing I’ve been through basketball-wise” and took responsibility in the postgame session with reporters. “Everything that happened there at the end is on me,” Paul said. “The turnover with 17 seconds left, assuming they were going to foul, was probably the dumbest play I’ve ever made. To even put it in the official’s hand to call a foul on a 3 – it’s just bad basketball.”


TRENDS:


* Road team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Thunder are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four road games.
* Clippers are 0-4 ATS in their last four games following a ATS win.
* Over is 7-1 in Clippers last eight home games.


COVERS CONSENSUS: 60 percent of Covers Consensus wagers are coming in on the Thunder.

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Reds, Padres rained out, will play two Thursday
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE


CINCINNATI -- Wednesday night's scheduled game between the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park was postponed due to rain. There also was severe weather in the area with an active tornado watch.


The postponed game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Thursday.


"The consistent message was that the light rain was going to stay for at least another four hours and then it could be heavier," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We didn't want to wait four hours to play two innings. There was never a window in which to play even six or seven innings."


With no reasonable option for the teams to make up the game later in the season, the clubs decided to play a day-night doubleheader Thursday with the first game set for 12:35 p.m. EDT followed by the nightcap at 6:10 p.m. EDT.


The weather forecast is more favorable for Thursday, with showers expected to end in the morning and a below-average temperature around 60.


The Padres announced Thursday's starting pitchers to be right-hander Ian Kennedy (2-3, 3.12 ERA) in the first game and right-hander Tyson Ross (4-3, 3.02 ERA) in the nightcap.


Right-hander Johnny Cueto (3-2, 1.43 ERA) will start the first game for Cincinnati, but the Reds' starter for Game 2 was yet to be determined.


"There are certain protocols we need to follow before we can make an announcement," said Price, adding that right-hander Alfredo Simon could start the second game but his preference was to add a pitcher from the minors to start the nightcap.


Price said he would rather have Simon pitch the following day against the Phillies in Philadelphia. Simon (4-2, 2.89 ERA) had planned to start Thursday's regularly scheduled series finale against San Diego.


NOTES: There have been eight rain delays already this season at Great American Ball Park totaling 11 hours and 12 minutes. Thursday marked the ninth postponement in the park's 12-year history, including two this year. ... The Padres reinstated RHP Dale Thayer from the paternity list and optioned RHP Kevin Quackenbush to Triple-A El Paso. Thayer and his wife welcomed their fourth child Monday. ... Major League Baseball announced a scoring change, changing a hit by Nationals OF Jayson Werth on April 26 to an error. The switch lowered Padres RHP Andrew Cashner's ERA from 2.67 to 2.35. ... Reds LHP Tony Cingrani, on the disabled list due to shoulder tendinitis, threw a side session Wednesday and is on track to return to start a game on the upcoming road trip.

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MLB

Hot pitchers
-- Cueto is 3-2, 1.43 in eight starts this year. Kennedy is 1-1, 2.16 in his last four starts. Ross is 2-0, 3.72 in his last three starts.
-- Hammel is 2-0, 2.00 in his last four starts.
-- Eovaldi is 1-1, 2.52 in his last four starts.


-- Hughes is 4-0, 2.39 in his last four starts.
-- Ventura is 1-0, 2.13 in his last four starts. WChen is 4-1, 3.82 in his last six.
-- Bedard is 2-0, 1.06 in his last three starts.

Cold pitchers
-- Simon is 0-1, 7.20 in his last couple starts.
-- Gallardo is 0-2, 5.60 in his last three starts. Rodriguez comes off DL here; he is 0-2, 7.65 in four starts.
-- Wacha is 0-3, 4.13 in his last five starts.
-- Cain is 0-3, 4.75 in six starts this season.

-- Buchholz is 2-2, 7.20 in his last four starts.
-- Salazar is 1-3, 6.97 in his last six starts. Happ is 0-1, 4.91 in two starts.
-- Skaggs has a 5.58 in his last five starts, but Angels are 5-1 when he starts.

-- DeGrom/Whitley are both making MLB debuts; DeGrom was 4-0, 2.58 in seven AAA starts. Whitley was 3-2, 2.39 in six AAA starts.


Pitchers allowing runs in first inning:
-- Kennedy 3-8 Ross 2-8; Cueto 1-8 Simon 3-7
-- Rodriguez 3-4; Gallardo 2-8
-- Hammel 1-7; Wacha 2-8
-- Eovaldi 3-8; Cain 3-6

-- Buchholz 4-7; Hughes 2-7
-- Salazar 1-7; Happ 0-2
-- Chen 2-7; Ventura 2-7
-- Bedard 1-5; Skaggs 4-6

-- Whitley 0-0; DeGrom 0-0

Totals
-- Six of last seven Cincinnati games stayed under.
-- Over is 10-4-1 in last fifteen Milwaukee games.
-- Over is 10-3-1 in last fourteen St Louis home games.
-- Last five Miami games went over the total.

-- Over is 5-1-2 in last eight Cleveland road games.
-- Three of last four Boston games went over.
-- Under is 5-1 in last six Kansas City games.
-- Over is 11-5-1 in Angel home games.

-- Four of Mets' last five games went over the total.

Hot teams
-- Padres won their last four games.
-- Milwaukee won three of its last four games.
-- Giants won 15 of their last 20 games.

-- Cleveland won six of its last eight games.
-- Angels won nine of their last thirteen games. Tampa Bay won six of its last eight road games.
-- Kansas City won four of its last five games.
-- Red Sox won seven of their last ten games.

-- Mets won three of their last four games.

Cold teams
-- Cincinnati lost four of its last six games.
-- Pirates lost ten of its last thirteen road games.
-- Cubs lost eight of their last ten games. St Louis is 6-8 in its last 14 games.
-- Miami lost 15 of its 19 road games.


-- Minnesota is 6-9 in its last fifteen games.
-- Toronto is 5-8 in its last thirteen home games.
-- Baltimore lost its last four games.


-- Bronx Bombers lost four of their last five games.

Umpires
-- Chi-StL-- Favorites won six of eight Little games.
-- SD-Cin-- Five of six Johnson games went over total. Five of six Basner tilts went over the total.
-- Pitt-Mil-- Underdogs won five of seven Bucknor games.

-- Cle-Tor-- Five of seven Emmel games stayed under.
-- Bos-Min-- Underdogs won three of five Guccione games.

-- NY-NY-- Under is 3-1-1 in last five Wendelstedt games.

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Today's MLB Picks

Miami at San Francisco

The Marlins head to San Francisco tonight to open up a series against a Giants team that is 1-10 in Matt Cain's last 11 starts as a home favorite. Miami is the pick (+115) according to Dunkel, which has the Marlins favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Miami (+115). Here are all of today's picks.

THURSDAY, MAY 15 Time Posted: 8:00 a.m. EST

Game 951-952: San Diego at Cincinnati (12:35 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Kennedy) 14.719; Cincinnati (Cueto) 16.322 Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1 1/2; 6 Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-170); 7 Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-170); Under

Game 953-954: Pittsburgh at Milwaukee (1:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Rodriguez) 15.402; Milwaukee (Gallardo) 14.869 Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1/2; 9 Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-155); 8 Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+135); Over

Game 955-956: Chicago Cubs at St. Louis (1:45 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Hammel) 13.747; St. Louis (Wacha) 15.900 Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 2; 6 Vegas Line: St. Louis (-200); 7 Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-200); Under

Game 957-958: Miami at San Francisco (10:15 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Miami (Eovaldi) 15.550; San Francisco (Cain) 14.468 Dunkel Line: Miami by 1; 8 Vegas Line: San Francisco (-135); 6 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Miami (+115); Over

Game 959-960: Boston at Minnesota (1:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Buchholz) 14.867; Minnesota (Hughes) 15.760 Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1; 10 Vegas Line: Boston (-130); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+110); Over

Game 961-962: Cleveland at Toronto (7:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Salazar) 15.089; Toronto (Happ) 16.731 Dunkel Line: Toronto by 1 1/2; 8 Vegas Line: Toronto (-110); 9 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-110); Under

Game 963-964: Baltimore at Kansas City (8:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Chen) 15.868; San Francisco (Ventura) 17.377 Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1 1/2; 6 Vegas Line: Kansas City (-130); 7 Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-130); Under

Game 965-966: Tampa Bay at LA Angels (10:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Bedard) 15.253; LA Angels (Skaggs) 14.862 Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1; 9 Vegas Line: LA Angels (-155); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (+135); Over

Game 967-968: NY Mets at NY Yankees (7:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Whitley) 13.536; NY Yankees (deGrom) 15.002 Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: NY Mets (-130); 8 Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (-130); Under

Game 969-970: San Diego at Cincinnati (6:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Ross) 15.404; Cincinnati (Francis) 14.622 Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1; 9 Vegas Line: No Line Dunkel Pick: N/A

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Cappers Access

Pacers +5
Clippers -5
Padres +126

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Today's NBA Picks

Oklahoma City at LA Clippers

The Thunder head to LA tonight for Game 6 where they are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games versus the Clippers. Oklahoma City is the pick (+5) according to Dunkel, which has the Clippers favored by only 1. Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (+5). Here are all of today's playoff picks.

THURSDAY, MAY 15 Time Posted: 8:00 a.m. EST

Game 741-742: Indiana at Washington (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 120.321; Washington 122.007 Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 1 1/2; 183 Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 5; 180 Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+5); Over

Game 743-744: Oklahoma City at LA Clippers (10:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Oklahoma City 125.367; LA Clippers 126.601 Dunkel Line & Total: LA Clippers by 1; 207 Vegas Line & Total: LA Clippers by 5; 211 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (+5); Under

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Gamblers Data

Free Plays Thursday

Brewers -150

Giants -140

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Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports

Free Play Thurs SF Giants -135

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Mighty Quinn

Mighty missed with the A’s on Wednesday and likes the Mets on Thursday.

The deficit is 384 sirignanos.

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NBA

Thursday, May 15

Very seldom any basketball team gets outrebounded 62-23, but Pacers did in Game 5 and at home- they won both series games here, by 22-3 points. Wizards scored 102 points in both their series wins, 82-63-92 in three losses. Wall was 11-20 from floor last game, after being in scoring funk before that. Washington lost three of its four home playoff games. Pacers won four of five road playoff games. Three of last four series games stayed under.

Clippers blew 7-point lead in last minute Tuesday, took bitter loss with officiating and ball security both under par. LA is 4-2 at home so far in playoffs. Oklahoma City is 3-2 on road in playoffs; they covered five of last seven games overall. Three of last four series games stayed under; underdogs covered four of five in series, with last two decided by total of three points. Clipper bench was 11-31 last game; need more than that. Five of Clippers' six playoff home games went over total.

Over is 42-28 in playoffs this season, 11-9 in this round.
Favorites are 24-46 in playoffs this season, 8-12 in this round.

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Maddux

LA Clippers -4.5

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Ecks and Bacon

Ben lee lost in the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday with the the Heat -7/Nets.

Ben lee won in the NHL Playoffs on Wednesday with the Kings -$140/Ducks.

"Mr Chalk's" play on the Reds -$165/Padres in MLB was Ppd.

For Thirsty Thursday E&B like two in the NBA Playoffs.

(1) Pacers +4.5/Wizards

(2) Clippers -4/Thunder

"Mr Chalk" has Np for Thursday.

Ben lee is 3-3 -$15 for week twenty nine 122-138-5 -$2441

"Mr Chalk" is 20-16 -$212 for the 2014 MLB season.

All E&B selections will be for $50 unless noted.

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StatFox Super Situations

SAN DIEGO at CINCINNATI
Play On - Any team (CINCINNATI) with an on base percentage of .260 or worse over their last 3 games, starting a pitcher who walked <=1 hitters each of his last 2 outings 287-211 over the last 5 seasons. ( 57.6% | 91.3 units ) 13-12 this year. ( 52.0% | -1.0 units )

StatFox Situational Power Trends

BALTIMORE at KANSAS CITY
KANSAS CITY is 60-31 (+28.8 Units) against the money line after 2 straight games without giving up a stolen base over the last 2 seasons. The average score was: KANSAS CITY (4.6) , OPPONENT (3.5)

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StatFox Super Situations

OKLAHOMA CITY at LA CLIPPERS
Play Under - Home teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 revenging a loss vs opponent against opponent off a close home win by 3 points or less 42-16 over the last 5 seasons. ( 72.4% | 24.4 units ) 7-7 this year. ( 50.0% | -0.7 units )

OKLAHOMA CITY at LA CLIPPERS
Play Against - Any team vs the money line (LA CLIPPERS) revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points, off a cover where the team lost the game straight up as an underdog 292-122 over the last 5 seasons. ( 70.5% | 89.1 units ) 53-27 this year. ( 66.3% | 0.1 units )

INDIANA at WASHINGTON
Play Under - All teams where the first half total is between 90.5 and 95.5 points after going under the total by 42 or more points total in their last seven games against opponent after going under the total by 48 or more points total in their last seven games 198-124 since 1997. ( 61.5% | 61.6 units ) 11-10 this year. ( 52.4% | 0.0 units )